GEO. M. BAKER'S 
NEW PLAYS. 



NEVADA, or The ILost Mine. 3 Acts. Price 25 cts.n^ / il^ 

PAST liKDEMFTION. 4 Acts. Trice 25 cts. f s( 0? 0%) 

COMKADKS. 3 Acts. Price 2o cts. .JZ>\^/-»^^ 

TI'I'ANIA. A Fany Play lor Cliildren. 2 Acts. Price 25 cts. 

OUIl FOLKS. 3 Acts. Price 15 cts. 

KEIiKCCA'S TKIUMPH. For female cliaracters only. 

Oilier New I'lays. l^l'ricc 25 cts. 



SANTA CLAUS THE FIEST. A Christmas Play for Children By F. E. Chase. Price 25c. 
POISON. As played by the "Hasty Pudding Ci.ur" of Harvard Collcirc. 




Copyright, 1876, by George M. Bakek. 



Spencer's Universal Stage. 

A Collection of COMEDIES, DRAMAS, and FARCES, adapted to either Public or Prii>at» 
Performance. Containing a full description of all the 
necessary Stage Business. 

PRICE, 15 CENTS EACH. (@~ No Plays Exchanged. 



LOST IN LONDON. A Drama in 3 Acts. 

6 male, 4 female characters. 
NICHOLAS FLAM. A Comedy in 2 Acta. 

By J. B. Buckstoue. 5 male, 3 female char. 
THE WELSH GIF.L. A Comedy in 1 Act. 

By Mrs. Flauche. 3 male, '2 female char. 
JOHN WOPPS. A Farce in 1 Act. By 

W. E. Suter. 4 male, 2 iemale char. 
THE TURKISH BATH. L Farce in 1 Act. 

By Montague Williams and F. C Burnand. 

G male, 1 female char. 
THE TWO PUDDIFOOTS. A Farce in 1 

Act. By J. M. Morton. 3 male, 3 female char. 
OLD HONESTY. A Comic Drama in 2 

Acts. By J. M. Morton. 6 male- 2 female char. 
TWO GENTLEMEN IN A FIX. A 

Farce in 1 Act. By W. E. Suter. 2 male char. 
SMASHINGTON GOIT. A Farce in 1 Act. 

By T. J. Williams. 5 male, 3 iiemale char. 
TWO HEADS BETTER THAN ONE. A 

Farce in 1 Act. By Lenox Home. 4 male, 

1 female char. 
JOHN DOBBS. 'a Farce in 1 Act. By J. M. 

Morton. 5 male, 2 female char. 
THE DAUGHTER of the REGIMENT. 

A Drania in 2 Acts. By Edward litzball. 

6 male, 2 female char. 
AUNT CHARLOTTE'S MAID. A Farce in 1 

Act. By J. M. Morton. 3 male, 3 female char. 
BROTHEE, BILL AND ME. A Farce in 

1 Act. By W. E. Suter. 4 male, 3 female char. 
DONE ON BOTH SIDES. A Farce in 1 

Act. By J. M. Morton, 3 male, 2 female char. 
DUNDUCKETTT'S PICNIC. A'Farce in 1 

Act. By T. J. Williams. C male, 3 female char. 
I'VE WRITTEN TO BROWNE. A Farce 

in 1 Act. By T. J. Williams. 4 male, 3 female 

char. 
MY PRECIOUS BETSY. A Farce in 1 

Act. By J. M. Morton. 4 male, 4 female char. 
MY TURN NEXT. A Farce in 1 Act. By 

T. J. Williams. 4 male, 3 female char. 
THE PHANTOM BREAKFAST. A Farce 

in 1 Act. By Chas. Selby. :j male, 2 female char. 
DANDELION'S DODGES. A Farce in 1 

Act. By T. J. Williams. 4 male, 2 female char. 
A SLICE OF LUCK. A Farce m 1 Act. By 

J. M. Morton. 4 male, 2 female char. 
ALWAYS INTENDED. A Comedy in 1 

Act. By Horace Wigan. 3 male, 3 female char. 
A BULL IN A CHINA SHOP. A Comedy 

in 2 Acts. By Charles Matthews. 6 male, 4 

female char. 
ANOTHER GLASS. A Drama in 1 Act. By 

Thomas Morton. G male, 3 female char. 
BOWLED OUT. A Farce in 1 A.ct. ByH. 

T. Craven. 4 male, 3 female char. 
COUSIN TOM. A Commedietta in 1 Act. By 

Geo. Roberts. 3 male, 2 female char. 
SARAH'S YOUNG MAN. A Farce in 1 

\ct. By W. E. Suter. 3 male, 3 female char. 
HIT HIM, HE HAS NO FRIENDS. A 

Farce in 1 Act. By E. Yates and N. U. Har- 
rington- 7 male, 3 female char. 
THE CHRISTENING. A Farce in 1 Act. 

By J. B. Buckstone. t> male 6 female char. 
A RACE FOR A WIDOW. A Farce in 1 

Act. By T. J. Williams. 5 male, 4 female char. 
YDUR LIFE'S IN DANGER. A Farce in 

1 Act. By J. M. Morton. 3 male, 3 female char. 
TRUE UNTO DEATH. A Drama in 2 Acts. 

B V J. Shendaii Knowles. 6 male, 2 female char. 



36. DIAMOND CUT DIAMOND. An Interlude 

in 1 Act. By W. H. Murray. 10 male, 1 female 
char. 

37. LOOK AFTER BROWN. A Farce in 1 Act. 

By George A. Stuart, M. D. 6 male, 1 female 
char. 

38. MONSEIGNEUR. A Drama in 3 Acts. By 

Thomas Archer. 15 male, 3 female char. 

39. A VERY PLEASANT EVENING. A 

Farce in 1 Act. By W. E. Suter. 3 male char. 

40. BROTHER BEN. A Farce in 1 Act. Bf 5, 

M. Morton. 3 male, 3 female char. 

41. ONLY A CLOD. A Comic Drama in 1 Act 

By J. P. Simpson. 4 male, 1 female char. 

42. GASPARDO THE GONDOLIER. A 

Drania in 3 Acts. By George Almar. 10 male, 
2 female char. 

43. SUNSHINE THROUGH THE CLOUDS. 

A Drama in 1 Act. By Slingsby Lawrence. 3 
male, 3 female char. 

44. DON'T JUDGE BY APPEARANCES. A 

Farce in 1 Act. By J. M. Morton. 3 male, 2 
female char, 

45. NURSEY CHICKWEED. A Farce in 1 Act. 

By T. J. Wi.liams. 4 male, 2 Iemale char. 

46. MARY MCO; or, Which shall I Marry? 

A Faice in 1 Act. By W. £. Suter. 2 male, 1 
female char. 

47. EAST LYNNE. A Drama in 5 Acts. 8 male, 

7 female char. 

48. THE HIDDEN HAND. A Drama in 5 Acts. 

By Robert Jones. IG male, 7 female char. 

49. SILVERSTONE'S WAGER. A Commedi- 

etta in 1 Ar;f.. By K. R. Andrews. 4 male, 3 fe- 
male char. 
BO. DORA. A Pastoral Drama in 3 Acts. By ^las. 
Reade. 6 male, 2 female char. 

55. TH:<] WIPE'S SECRET. A Play in 6 Acts. 

By Geo. W. Love i. 10 male, 2 female char. 

56. THE BABES IN THE WOOD. A Com- 

edy in 3 Acts, By Tom Taylor. 10 male. 3 fe- 
male char, 

57. PUTKINS , Heir 1 3 Castles in the Air. 

A Comic Drama in i Act. 'By W. R. Emerson. 

2 male, 2 fe .ale char. 

58. AN UGT-Y CUSTOMER. A Farce in 1 Act 

By Th-^mas J. Williams. 3 male, 2 female char. 

59. E LUE AND CHERRY. A Comedy in 1 Act 

3 malp, 2 female char. ^ 

60. A DOUBTFUL VICTORY. A Comedy in 

1 Act. 3 male, 2 fenijle char. 

61. THE SCARLET LETTER. A Drama in 8 

Acts. 8 male, 7 female char. 

62. WHICH WILL HAVE HIM? A Vaude- 

ville. 1 male, 2 female char. 

63. MADAM IS ABED. A Vaudeville in 1 Act 

2 male, 2 female char. 

64. THE ANONYMOUS KISS. A Vaudeville. 

2 male, 2 female char. 

65. THE CLEFT STICK. A Comedy in 3 Acts. 

5 male, 3 female char. 

66. A SOLDIER, A SAILOR, A TINKER, 

AND A TAILOR. A Farce in 1 Aci. 4 male, 
2 female char. 

67. GIVE A DOG A BAD NAME. A Farce. 

2 male, 2 female char. 

68. DAMON AND PYTHIAS. A Farce. « 

male, 4 female char. 

69. A HUSBAND TO ORDER. A Serio-comic 

Drama in 2 Acts. 6 male, 3 female char. 

70. PAYA BLE ON DEMAND. A Domestic 

Drama iu 2 Acts. 7 male, 1 female char. 



Descriptive Catalogue mailed free en applkaiim^ ^ 

(ieo. M. BaKtr ii to., 47 Franklin St., Bostou. 



THE 



BACHELOR'S CHRISTMAS 



A CHRISTMAS ENTERTAINMENT 



BY 

E. a Ay. 

AUTHOE OF "SAUTA CLAUS AT H03IE' 



BOSTON 
GEORGE M. BAKER & COMPANY 



/ 



REMARKS. 



Tins little play is written for the use of persons wishing at 
Christmas some very simple entertainment which a few can 
execute, and which will be short, easy of performance, and inex- 
pensive. Do not be afraid to select and trust quite yoiuig chil- 
dren to do their parts. The author has had much experience 
with young children, and they always more than fulfil expecta- 
tions. Work easily and quietly with them, and do not rehearse 
them too much. Instruct them to speak clearly, loudly, and 
slowly. Never, no matter if the speech be of but one word, 
let them hurry ; and always make a good opportunity for their 
little speeches, and give them time enough to have full effect. 
A child young enough to sit in a high-chair, and be given a rat- 
tle and other playthings, will add very nnich to the picturesque- 
ness of the piece, and will give good opportunity for grouping 
and occupying the other children. The child may be called 
"baby," even if quite old, if it is somewhat small. 



Copyright, 1884, 
By GEORGE M. BAKER. 



All rights reserved. 



The Bachelor's Christmas. 



DRAMATIS PERSONJE. 

Mk. Kobekt Chester. — A wealthy, hot-tempered, but kind- 
hearted bachelor. 

Mrs. Wilton. — A poor widow with a family of small chil- 
dren. She proves to be Mr. Chester's sister. 

Harry. — Mrs. Wilton's oldest child. 

Kex, Daisy, Dotty, and Baby. — Her other children. 

A serving-boy. 

Harriet. — A maid. 



COSTUMES. 

Mr. Chester always as comfortably and stylishly dressed as is 

possible. 
Mrs. Wilton and the children very poorly, with clothing neat 

but patched, until the last scene, when they must be gotten 

up to look as pretty and stylish as possible. 
Time, less than an hour. 



PROLOGUE. 

(Before the curtain. Enter Daisy and Dotty: trip to the 
middle of stage.) 

Dotty. 

Merry Christmas ! Merry Christmas ! 

Merry Christmas to you all ! 
Merry Christmas, fathers, mothers; 
Merry Christmas, sisters, brothers; 

To big folks and to small 

Daisy. 

We can wish it, you must make it. 

In the heart the merry grows : 
From the heart the face must take it, 

Till with Christmas joy it glows. 

Daisy and Dotty. 

So Merry Christmas! Merry Christmas! 

Merry Christmas to you all ! 
Merry Christmas, fathers, mothers; 
Merry Christmas, sisters, brothers; 

To big folks and to small. 



A BACHELOR'S CHRISTMAS. 



SCENE I. 

Street. Tico days before Christmas. Enter Mr. 
Chester. Me is muffled up very wai^m and com* 
fortahle looking. - 

Mr. Chester (searching for something on the ground) . 
Fool ! Idiot ! To lose a pocket-book at my age ! I 
must be getting into my dotage. Br-r-r ! How cold 
it is ! A curse on the malicious fates ! I shall never 
see that money and those valuable papers again. You 
can stake your — - (Stojis suddenly on looking u]?^ ayid 
seeing Harry tvatching him. Harry's clothes are 
patched; he has no overcoat; a tippet around his 
neck. He has his hands in pockets^ and keeps his feet 
in motion to keep them warm.) Hullo, youngster! 
What are you spying after, I should like to know? 
Haven't you any thing better to do than to stand 
around poking fun at your betters ? 

Harry. I'm not poking fun, sir. 

Mr. C. Well, just let me know why you consti- 
tute yourself a spy on gentlemen's movements. Hey ! 
Get out of my way, I say, young impudence {lifts his 

5 



6 A bachelor's cheistmas. 

cane tJireateningly at Mm. Harry dodges) . What do 
you want around here, anyway? 

Harry. I thought you seemed to be looking for 
something, sir. 

Mr. C. Well, and if I was looking for something? 
Isn't that my privilege, sir? Be off, I say ! {Suddenly 
changing tone, as an idea strikes liini.) I say, little 
boy, you haven't found any thing, have 3^ou? 

Harry. Yes, sir : I found a pocket-book with a lot 
of money in it. 

Mr. C. {irritably). Well, now you talk business. 
{Angrily.) But wliy don't you give it to me, and not 
stand gaping there? I suppose you want to chaffer 
about the reward. Hand it over, I say ! {Strikes the 
ground angrily with his cane.) Hand it over. You 
need have no fears. I shall pay you handsomely. 

Harry. But mother said I was to be sure it was 
the right man, 'cause there's ever so much money in it. 

Mr. C. True. Your mother is right. Of course, 
of course. But I am the right man, you see : so you 
may give it to me. 

Harry. But mother said I must ask the man his 
name ; for there's a whole bunch of his cards in it. 

Mr. C. Why, of course ! What a dolt I am ! 
I'm acting like the impatient idiot that I am, and the 
boy keeps his temper like a gentleman. {Bending down 
pleasantly to Harry.) My name is Robert Chester. 
Now, is that the name in the pocket-book? 

Harry. Yes, sir ; that is the name. 

Mr. C. Well, then, now you will give me the 
pocket-book, won't you, like a nice little boy? 



A bachelor's CHRISTMAS. 7 

Harry. But I haven't got it. 

Mr. C. Fury and lightning ! Haven't got it ! 
Then where in — Ah-ahem {beading pleasantly down 
to the boy ugain). Where is it, then, my little man? 

Harry. Mother's got it. She says I'm too little to 
cany around such a lot of money. I'll go right home 
and get it. {He starts to go.) 

Mr. C, That's true, of course. Your mother is 
right again. Here, wait. I'll give you my card, so 
your business-like mother will be satisfied (2mts his 
hand in ove)xoat-pocket for his pocket-book^ then sud- 
denly recollecting). Oh, I forget! my cards are in my 
con — Ah, in my lost pocket-book, you know, of 
course. Here {he finds a scrap of paper in one of his 
2)ockets^ writes his name on it, and gives it to Harry). 
There, that will do. How far do j^ou live ? 

Harry. Just around the corner. I'll be back in 
two jiffies. {He 7'iins off.) 

Mr. C. {solo) . Now, I wonder how long the chap 
will be gone. I haven't half-a-dozen wits about me, 
or I should have gone with him. Br-r-r 1 How cold it 
is ! Ah, here comes the boy ! He's spry, that's a 
fact. One must be, this weather, or freeze. {Enter 
Harry, out of breath.) See here, youngster, are you 
crazy? Don't 3^ou know it's cold weather? 

Harry {staring in surjyrise) . Sir ! 

Mr. C, I say, it's a stinger of a day. Why don't 
you wear your overcoat ? 

Harry. I haven't any overcoat. I've got this big 
tippet, though. 

Mr. C Nonsense ! Now, what a reasonable yarn 



8 A BAOHELOE'S 0HKISTMAS, 

that is ! Haven't soy overcoat^ gacb weather as this ! 
That's likelvy tJiat m, . Why doesn't your stHpid father 
get you one ? 

Habky {a little prm(dhf) . I haven't any father, and 
my father vjamH stitpid, 

Mr, C. I beg your patdoK, Of cotifs^ he wasn't, 
{Aside.') Vni the ^tHpid one. No father at aO I that'g 
shocking really, aed stich a baby too 1 {To hjy.) Bat 
aren't you cold, you know ? 

PIarky. a little bit, iiometiroe^; but wbes I'm hi^ 
I'll earn me an overcoat, 

Mr. C% (aside). Hear hnu, now ! D'ye s'pose he's 
too jryoor to hare a coat? On honor, I've heard them 
tell of such things; but no, it's ab^nrd, it ean't t^e, 
Not to have an overcoat, such weather as this t {To 
hoy.) Well, little l>oy, did yoo brijig my pocfeet-book? 
If you did, I'm thinking you've eanaed yourself an 
overcoat wittiout waiting till you're big, 

Harry. Mother i^ays die is soiTy to trouble jon^ 
sir ; but I'm not very big, and, as it's only a ^tep, ^\\e 
would feel safer if she gave it to you herself. 

Mr. C. Bah ! another delay. I was a fool not to 
go with you in the first place. After all, she is right. 
Come along, my man. {Exeunt Mr, Chester and 
Harry.) 



A BACHELOR S GHEISTMAS. 



SCENE II. 

Mrs. Wilton's Jiome, Very poor and desolate looking. 
The pocket-book lies half-open on a pine table. The 
children,, excepting Hakky, gathemd around the table^ 
intent upoti the pocket-book, Mrs, Wilton aslde^ 
holding in, 7ier hand tJie piece of paper Harry brought 
from Mr. Chester. 

Hex. Ob my buttons ! Just look, Daisy ! See the 
2yiles of money. My e^^es ! I wish it was ours. We'd 
have the big turke}^ that's hanging up down to Smithes 
for Christmas dinner, wouldn't we though? 'n' cran- 
b'ries, 'n' nuts, 'n' all the fixings. {They peep at it 
excitedly^ bid do not touch it.) 

Mrs. W, {apart ^ looking at the paper in her hands) . 
Eol)ert Chester ! my own brother. And this was writ- 
ten by his own hand ! What will he be like ? ( Greatly 
agitated.) Will he know me? No, no, he will not 
know me. Twelve long years of poverty have changed 
me so ! How I tremble at thouaht of meeting him 
again ! 

Daisy {going to her mother). Mamma, would you 
know how to cook a great big turkey? 

Rex. 'Cause if you would, mamma, keep the money, 
'n' we can buy the one hanging up down to Smith's, 'u' 
have some more coal, 'n' be warm. Keep it, mother : 
/would. Harry found it, 'n' /think it's ours. 

Mrs. W. Hush, dears : you do not know what you 
are saying. The money isn't ours. Hark ! they are 



10 A bachelor's Christmas. 

coming. (Aside.) Heaven help me ! I tremble like 
a leaf. 

(Stejis outside. Harky rushes in, rims up to his mother, 
and speaks hastily.) 

Harry. He's cross as a bear, mother, but don't 
3^oa be afraid. He's all right. (Rushes back, shows in 
Mr. Chester.) Mamma, this is Mr. Chester. He's 
the man who lost the pocket-book. 

Mr. C. (very much embarrassed) . Your son, madam, 
ahem — your boy here — ahem ! (He looks in iconder 
around the room.) You don't mean to say, madam, 
that you Hve here ! 

Mrs. W. Yes, sir: this is our home. (Aside.) 
He doesn't know me ! It is cruel — cruel ! 

Mr. C. But really, madam (still looking around), 
ahem — I beg your pardon, it's none of my affairs, 
you know; but — ah — well, ahem — ah — What I 
mean is, you know, I shouldn't think you'd like it. 

Mrs. W. (aside). Poor Robert ! He's no idea of 
poverty. How should he have? He has always lived 
in luxury. (To Mr. Chester.) It's tlie best I can 
do for them, sir. My family is large, and I have no 
husband and no money. 

Mr. C. Hm ! Really ! Possible ! I'd no idea, 
you know, it was so bad. We give a good deal of 
money to 'em for the poor ; really we do indeed, 
madam, and you ought to have some of it. Of course 
you ought. Hm ! (Excited.) It's shocking -3^ou 
haven't. It is really, you know. 

Mrs. W. (aside). M}^ own brother, and he v:iU not 
know me. And he has changed too. It seems impos- 
sible that this is my bright brother Bob. 



A bachelor's CHRISTMAS. 11 

Mr. C. And your boy found my pocket-book. I 
am the right man, madam. Indeed, you may believe 
me. 

Mrs. W. (giving him the pocket-hooTx). Certainly I 
believe you, and I am very glad my son was able to do 
you the service. 

Mr. C. Yes, yes. And what shall I — you kuow 
what I mean — ah — What's the right thing to pay 
him for his honesty, you know? How much do you 
want? 

Mrs. W. {proiidly). We want no pay, sir, for 
being honest. Honesty is its own reward. 

Mr. C. (nervously). Why, yes, of course, madam; 
of course, without doubt. That's a very sublime sen- 
timent, — very, and I approve of it perfectly, per- 
fectly, madam ; (turning to Harry) but look here, 
young man, you know, set your own price, and you 
needn't be at all bashful. 

Harry. Mother is right. I will not be paid for 
bemg honest. 

Mr. C. (striking his cane angrily on the floor). Con- 
fusion to your fine sentiments ! You little simpleton, 
I say you shall be paid. Gods and heroes ! Do you 
think you're to do me a service like that, and not be 
paid for it? (The children start hack ivhen he strikes 
his cane, the smallest one clinging to its mother.) 

Daisy (coming foricarcl in front of Mr. Chester, 
and stamping her little foot vigorously, and looking up 
in his face). Harry isn't a simpleton, and j^ou're a 
naughty, bad man. Harry sha'n't take whatever he 
don't want to — so now ! (Stamps again.) 



12 A bachelor's chbistmas. 

Mr. C. {frowning down at Daisy a moment, then 
iq)on all the rest, suddenly bursts into a kmgli). Ha, 
ha, ha ! You pretty baby ! What do you know about 
it, — you? See here, baby, wouldn't you like a lot of 
money? now say, ivouldn't you? 

Daisy. 'Nuff to buy the big turkey hanging up 
down to Smif s? 

Dotty. 'N' some candy dogs 'n' horses? 

Rex. 'N' rae a big tippet like Harry's? 

Mr. C. That's it exactly, my cherubs : j^ou've hit 
it plum. And your little fool of a brother won't take 
the money. Now, what do you say to that? 

Daisy (stamping again). Harry isn't a fool-ver- 
brover, and if Harry doesn't want us to have 'em we 
don't want 'em. ( Wags her head at him defiantly, and 
goes to Harry.) Won't you let the man give us some 
money? Please do, Harry dear, and we'll have a nice 
big fire, and be warm. It's cold. 

Mr. C. (winces as he looks at the fire). Shades! 
It's only the ghost of a fire. 

Dotty. An' we'll be rich, Hally. 

Rex. Do, Hal. Let him. We need the money 
more'n he does. 

Harry (to Mr. Chester). When I found your 
pocket-book, sir, I was going over to do some errands 
for Smith. He was going to give me half a dollar. I 
lost the job waiting round for you. You could pay me 
the half-dollar, if you please, sir, — just for my time, 
you see. 

Mr. C. Ha, ha ! You are a regular little business 
man, you are. Really, 1 like that, after aU. And 



A BACHELOe'S CHRISTMAS. 13 

what were you going to do with your half-dollar, 
pray? 

Harry. Mother and I were going to get some little 
presents to put in the children's stockings. 

Mr. C. {very 7nuch amused) , The children's stock- 
ings ! That goes ahead of every thing yet. And 
aren't you one of the children yourself, pray? 

Harry. Oh, yes ! but I'm the big one, you know ; 
and — and father told me to help mother take care of 
the littler ones. 

Mr. C. {aside^ very much affected). And what 
could you buy for the little ones, my man, with your 
fifty cents? 

Harry {hrighthj) . Oh, lots of things ! A tippet 
for Hex ; and there's lots of cunning little things for 
the girls at Carter's, for only five cents apiece ; and 
then some candy, {hastodng to explaiit) just the very 
least bit, you know, sir, to tuck way, way down in the 
toes. 

Mr. C. Well, my boy, here's your fifty cents {giv- 
iiig him a silver half-dollar) ; and you've earned it, my 
boy, indeed 3^ou have {brushes his eyes excitedly) . You 
are a good boy, a very good boy. ( Taming to Mrs. 
Wilton ; the children alt examine Harry's half-dollar.) 
Madam, you ought to be proud of your son : he's a 
man, every inch of him. I'm a cross, crusty old bach ; 
but I've got half an eye, and I can see they are fine 
children, all of 'em. And now, madam, be kind 
enough to take this money {lays a bill on the table) ^ and 
buy them some nice Christmas presents. (Mrs. W. 
makes a inotion of refusing.) No, uo, my dear madam ! 



14 A bachelor's CHRISTMAS. 

it is not to pay yonr honesty ; no, indeed {pompously) , 
certainly not. It would be absurd, it would be an 
insult, to offer anybody pay for being honest, — ahem 
(embarrassed) , ah — ah — of course it would. I agree 
witli you. It's only a Christmas present to your good 
little children ; just exactly, madam, just exactly as I 
would give Christmas presents to my little nephews 
any nieces if I had any. Yes — ah — that's it; I 
agree with you perfectly, you know. 

Mrs. W. (aside). Oh, it is cruel! Why will he 
not know they are his nephews and nieces ? I will tell 
him. {Starts to attract his attention, but her courage 
fails.) No, no, I cannot: I have not the courage. It 
is enough just to have seen his dear face : I will be 
satisfied. 

Mr. C. Good-day, madam. {To Harry.) Good- 
day, my fine boy. Good-day, all of you. A — a — 
merry Christmas ; yes, merry Christmas, that's the 
way they say it, and I trust you'll have it. You'll 
hear from me again, madam ; yes indeed, of course. 
I wouldn't let it end there. Good-day. {Exit.) 

Mrs. W. My brother ! my brother Bob, and he is 
gone, actually gone ! It is too cruel ! I cannot bear 
it. I was wrong, I was wrong ! I should have told 
him. He is hasty, but he is not hard-hearted. He 
would have taken care of my little ones ; and now he 
is gone, and I know not where. {Buries face in her 
pocket-handkerchief. The children gather., some about 
baby., some about Harry and his money.) 
{Curtain.) 



A bachelor's CHRISTMAS. 15 



.. SCENE III. 

Mr. Chester's room in hotel. Enter Mr. Chester 
' in his costume of Scene I. and II. 

Mr. C. (throws his gloves on the table tvith an em- 
2)hatic gesture). Really, I wouldn't have believed it. 
It doesn't seem possible, such poverty as that. Right 
under our very eyes, too ! AVell (provdly)^ I've always 
given them all the money they've asked me for, for 
charitable purposes, — every cent. I've never been 
grudging. It's a comfortable reflection, that is, — a 
very comfortable reflection. (Hangs his overcoat on 
the nail ichile talking, then takes off his boots, and puts 
on slip2^ers. He takes off his inside coat, and in an ab- 
sent-minded tvay throws it into the corner of the room, 
and tries to hang his boots on the nail.) Well, reall}^ ! 
What an old dotard I'm orettino- to be ! Here I am 
banging up my boots, and throwing my coat in the 
corner. (He puts them right.) Strange I cannot get 
these people out of my mind ! I didn't believe I had 
such a thing as a heart. I thought it was dried and 
withered all to nothing. And here I find I have one, 
and it is stirred through and through. Bah ! I'm get- 
ting weak and feminine. I sent them the turkey. I'll 
send them fifty or a hundred dollars, and forget all 
about them. Really, it's absurd to allow myself to be 
so weak. (Bings the bell, and, picking ^ip a paper, seats 
himself to read. Enter boy. He takes no notice. Boy 
waits respectf idly . Looks up.) Dolt! Don't you see 



16 A bachelor's CHRISTMAS. 

those boots? Weil, and haven't you eyes to see that 
they need blacking? {Exit boy ivith boots.) My mind 
reverts continually to Mary. My pretty sister Mary ! 
Perhaps she is alone in the world like this woman, — 
alone and poor, with half a dozen children to care for. 
God forgive me ! I was a beast to turn her away ])e- 
cause she married a poor man, — I {bhfbberlng) , I who 
was all she had after father and mother died. What a 
beast I was 1 I'm a criminal. I'll give myself to the 
authorities to be hung, {Bloics his nose^ and 2')€Lces the 
stage excitedly,) What weakness and folly is this ! 
(Fiercely,) It was her own fault. What right had 
she to marry a man without a cent in his pocket? I 
gave her her choice, — her own brother, or poverty. 
She chose the poverty, — she freely and deliberately 
chose the poverty. It is her own fault — not mine. 
{Seats himself savagely in a chair^ and tries to read, 
A few notes of piayio in an adjoining apartment are 
heard, then a voice sings, " Peace on earth, good-will 
to men," etc, Throics paper angrily doivn. Siuging 
continues.) Thrum, thrum, thrum 1 They are at that 
eternal rehearsal again. I suppose they will keep that 
up till after Christmas {jxiciug excitedly up and down 
the stage). No one ought to be allowed to disturb 
people's peace in this fashion. If they must keep up 
such a racket, they ought to be made to get off by 
themselves. {Sits down., and gradually begins to listen. 
(Song stG2)s, A feiv Uugering notes on the piano.) 
*' Peace on earth, good- will to men ! '* I know I shall 
never know peace on earth again till I find my sister 
Mary, and find her I will. {Gets up excited again^ 



A bachelor's cheistmas, 17 

pounds the table idth his fist.) When Robert Cliester 
says be will do a thing, it is done } and before Heaveii I 
say I will iiDd be? 1 Marry a pool* mars, indeed ! Why 
sb€Hild Bhe not marry a poor man if she chooses? I 
adnsire her pluck for doing it, Wowldu't I iHarr3^ a 
poor woman if it plea&ed Riy will ? Bast I {Soherly 
and luith great feeling.) But poor Mary ! Perhaps; she 
is like this woman — who know®? How do I know 
her biisband is still living? Twelve years! He's had 
tiafe enough to die a dozefl times. Bat {vehemently 
pounding the tcihle ivith his fist) I say I will hod Mary, 
111— I'll— I'll be her slave, {Blubbers. Enter hmj.) 

BoT, Bid yoa call me ? 

Mr, C, (angrily). Did I ring? 

Boy, Yoa poanded, sir. 

Mr. C, (fiercely). Well. hasnH a mati the privilege 
In this hotel of pounding without being called to task 
for it? Go I (Exit boy.) Bat how to find my poor 
Mary? I have it ! I'll advertise. {Picks vp piece of 
paper ^ takes pencil frmn pockety aiul torifes ^^ Lost/') 
Lost, lost I No, that won't do (crosses it, and imites 
again). Strayed, strayed! 1 shoakl say she was a 
cow (crosses it mit). I'm an idiot, I'll employ .t de- 
tective. No, that's worse yet. I shotild hoi>e she isn't 
a thief or a murderer. ( Throtus dotvn pencil^ scoids^ 
and thinks a moment. Suddenly starts tip in great ex- 
citement^ and rushes up and dotvn the stage.) Know- 
nothing ! Fool ! Idiot I No wonder the voice thrilled 
me ! No wonder my dead heart came to life again I 
It's Mary. It's Mary herself ! Heaven forgive me I 
Have I let her come to this ? I did not know ; I — I 



18 A bachelor's CHRISTMAS. 

• — how should I, — how should I know it was so bad ? 
But no, no, it isn't Mary. It can't be ! Mary was 
rosy and plump and beautiful ; and this woman — 
But twelve years ! Twelve years of such living ! No 
wonder she is changed ! {Flies around excitedly.) But 
I'll get her — I'll get her and her children this instant. 
{Looks for his boots, and. rings bell.) Strange she did 
not know me, — very strange ! {Blubbers.) And I'll 
be a father to her children. I'll — {Enter boy.) You 
scoun — {Aside.) Wait! If I'm to be a father to 
Mary's babies, I must stop that sort of thing. {Aloud 
to boy.) I say, will you please be kind enough to 
bring me my boots? and {fiercely) mind you are not 
half an hour about it either. {Exit boy.) This Christ- 
mas will find me a changed man. {Puts on his over- 
coat energetically.) What a wretch I've been ! What 
a blind-eyed, crusty old cosseter of myself I've been ! 
But it's ended. I — {Enter boy ; he puts down boots., 
looks shyly at Mr. Chester, and exit. Mr. Chester 
sits down, and tries to put on his boots.) I'm an old 
— old — I never knew before a man couldn't put on 
his boots with his overcoat on. {Throics off overcoat, 
jnits 071 boots very rapidly, draivs on mittens, puts on 
hat, and picks up cane) . I always thought Christmas 
was a regular bore, but I believe I'm getting on a 
thorough Christmas spirit myself. {Cutely to audi- 
ence.) Send 'em fifty or a hundred dollars, and forget 
them! ha, ha! I made a joke that time, didn't I? 
Ha, ha 1 {Exit smartly.) 



A BACHELOE's CHRISTMAS. 19 



SCENE IV. 

Mrs. Wilton's liome. A big kirkey lying on the table. 
Tlie children gathered around the turkey in delight. 
Mrs. Wilton sitting thoughtftdly apart. 

Harry {pidling the turkey by one leg, the better to ex- 
amine it). It is, it's the big turkey that was hanging 
up at Smith's. I know him sure : I've looked at him 
so many times, wishing we could have him. 

Daisy. And now we've got him ! 

Eex. Who do you s'pose sent him? 

Daisy. That man, of course. 

Harry. Oh ! but he's a fat fellow. My eyes ! I 
wish he was baked. 

Mrs. W. (aside). He's a kind man if he is gruff. 
I wish I had had the courage to tell him I am his sister. 
He is rich. Perhaps he would have taken care of us. 
Oh, my poor husband, my poor dear husband ! {Puts 
her head on the table, with her face in her handkerchief. 
The children go toward her.) 

Daisy. Mamma, dear mamma, what is it? Please 
tell us. Aren't you glad we've got a turkey, and lots 
of money? Don't, mamma dear, don't cry. We were 
so poor yesterday, and now we are rich. 

Rex. Say, mamma, a^-e we rich now?- and what 
makes you cry? 

Harry. I know. She is thinking of papa. I've 
been thinking of him too. But mamma {anxiously) 
it'll be Christmas in two days, you know ; and oughtn't 



20 A BACHELOB's CHRISTMAS. 

we to make it as merry as we can, — just for the 
children ? 

Mrs. W. Just for the children ! You dear, brave, 
tiny little man ! How would mamma ever get on with- 
out you? {Takes Harry's face between her hands^ and 
kisses it.) Yes, we wilt malve it merry. You must all 
hang up your stockings to-morrow night, and I don't 
believe Santa Claus will forget you. To-morrow after- 
noon you will be good children, and take care of the 
house ; and I will go down town, and spend {holds up 
finger merrily at them) — you know what I {Children 
dance, and clap their hands*) And it will all be secret ; 
and you must shut your eyes when I come home, and 
not ask any questions. And then Christmas morning ! 
ah, won't our eyes shine I You'll seel {Children 
dance, and clap hands.) 

Harry, /ought to go with you to carry the bundles, 
mamma. {A knock, and Mr. Chester enters. Mrs. 
Wilton starts.) 

Mr. C. {looking very stern). Well! {He looks 
around the room. Aside.) How shall I begin? It's 
very embarrassing. {He scoids.) Well ! 

Mrs. W. {aside). How he scowls, and how stern 
he looks ! Oh, he suspects, and he is angry ! Now 
Heaven help us ! 

Daisy {stepping in front of him, and looking up in his 
face). Was it you 't sent it? 

Mr. C. {taking no notice). Bad enough ! bad enough !" 
I can hardly believe my senses. {Aside.) Yes, it is 
my sister, my beautiful blooming sister Mary. {Aloud.) 
And you say you have no father ? 



A bachelor's CHRISTMAS. 21 

Mrs. W. No, they have no father. Their father 
died Dearly a year ago. 

Mr. C. {suddenly and in a commanding tone^ rapijing 
his cane on the floor) . But I say they have a father. 
{Pauses grandly. The children seem a little frighteyied,) 
I say they have a father. Now and in the future / am 
their father so long as I live. {Pauses again in an 
impressive manner.) 

Daisy {steiyping forioard^ stamping her foot ^ and look- 
ing up in his face). You're 7iot our papa. You sha'n't 
be our papa. Our papa wasn't cross. He was kind 
and good, — ever so kind and good. {Steps back, wag- 
ging her head defiantly.) 

Mr. C. {froivning doiun at Daisy, then around at the 
rest. He breaks down stammering and blubbering). 
Mary, Mary, my sister, don't you know me? don't you 
know your brother Bob? {Blows his nose, and is very 
much excited. Mrs. Wilton buries her face in her 
handkerchief, and sobs.) 

Rex {fiercely, stepping toward him belligerently). 
You go away ! You are a naughty, bad man, 'n' you 
make my mother cry. 

Harry. And take your turkey, and all your money. 

Daisy {going in front of him, and stamp)ing) . Go 
away ! 

Dotty {going in front of him, and stampiyig). 
Quick, orfle quick ! 

Mr. C. {dreadfully perplexed). See here, Mary, 
your children are afraid of me. Tell 'em, tell 'em, 
Mary : /can't. Tell 'em I'm their father. — See here 
now, children, you know, I'm not cross. Really, now, 



22 A bachelor's CHRISTMAS. 

little clears, I'm not. I'm the kindest man in this city ; 
I am now, really, only — why, you see, I don't know 
how to show it. {Suddenly winks to audience triumph- 
antly. Aside.) I have it! {Sits doivn, and ogles to 
4he children^ and beckons to them.) Come here now, 
little dears, and I'll tell you a story, — a true one! 
Come now. 

Dotty {coming over to him). And won't you hurt 
us — truly ? 

Mr. C. No, indeed. {Puts her on his knee.) 
There, I like that ! You shall be my especial pet. 
Now {to Daisy), you come too, little pussy. {Makes 
a 7ioise as if calling a cat.) 

Dotty {x)utting her hand on his cheek., and pulling his 
face toward hers). Daisy isn't a kitty. 

Mr. C. {feigning the greatest surprise). No indeed ! 
There, now I have j^ou. {The boys draw nearer.) Now 
for the story. ( Very pompously, and as though it were 
an astonishing statement.) Once I was a little boy no 
bigger than you ! 

Rex. O' course. 

Daisy. All big folks was little folks like us once, 
wasn't they? 

Mr. C. {puzzled and aside). What shcdl I say next? 
How shall I tell 'em? I ivon't tell 'em at all : they'll 
hate me. I'll patch it up somehow. {Aloud to the 
children.) And I had a little sister, — a dear, beautiful 
{blubber's, and takes out handkerchief), beautiful little 
sister. It was your own mother, children, — your own 
mother, my beautiful, rosy little sister was. Mary {turn- 
ing to her) , Mary, come here, and tell them it is true. 



A bachelor's CHRISTMAS. 23 

Mrs. W. {rises, arid stands beside Mr. Chester tvith 
her arm over his shoulder) . Yes, my darlings, it is my 
owu dear brother Robert ; and thank God he is come ! 

Mr. C. {using his handkerchief freely) . And, chil- 
dren, it's a big world — and — and — and I lost her. 
And now I've found her, and I shall never lose her 
again. ( Gets up, and very clumsily puts his arms around 
her, and kisses her.) No indeed, I will never lose her 
again, before Heaven I swear it ! (To the children, in 
his ogling tone again.) And now, little darlings, will 
you let me be your father? 

Dotty. If you'll be good. 

Daisy. And if mamma says so. 

Mr. C. If and if! It seems, then, I may get the 
mitten yet. Hey, little folks, I have a fat pocket- 
book, you know ; and you won't have to wish for things 
any more and not have them — ha, ha ! How will you 
like that? 

Rex. And shall we drive a span, and have lots of 
servants, and live in a castle ? 

Mr. C. Hi ! {very proudly and grandly) my son, 
you get on fast. 

Daisy. Like kings and queens in fairy stories? 
{Claps her hands.) Oh, I shall love that ! 

Mr. C. {proudly again). Tut, tut, my little daugh- 
ter ! Your expectations tally with your brother's, don't 
they? 

Mrs. W. {smiling). No, no, dears, not that. Your 
uncle means plenty of food, and warm clothing to keep 
you warm, and — and — a happy, comfortable home. 

Mr. C. {looking grandly around on the company). 



24 A bachelor's CHRISTMAS. 

Am I, then, at last the accepted head of this house, and 
father of these children ? 

Rex (running to liim^ and taking his hand). Oh, 
you good, good, new papa! 

Daisy {she and Dotty dinging to his other hand; 
baby ivith mamma). I'll be good always, always^ and 
mind 3'ou ; and I know I'll like to be rich. 

Mr. C. Tut, tut ! 

Dotty. An' me too. 

Harry {throidng his arms around his mother^ s neck). 
O mother, mother ! It's too good, 

Mr. C. {raising his finger at Harry). And mind, 
I'm to have no rival. You have no further charge of 
these little ones. You are to be my {proudly) eldesfc 
son, and one of the babies. 

{Curtain faUs with finger still up.) 



SCENE V. 



Handsome parlor of the new home. Mrs. Wilton 
making one or two ribbon boivs at the table. 

Mr. C. {pacing up and down the stage, rubbing his 
hands delightedly). I tell you, Mary, we were lucky 
to get this ail 'furnished at so short notice. Here it's 
been standing idle for four months. I believe it was 
just waiting for us. And to think they made me pay 
two hundred more for it on account of the children ! 
Ha, ha, ha! Really now, I never knew before, — I 
really didn't, — that the little rabbits were so much 



A bachelor's CHRISTMAS. 25 

below par. But just let 'em try to get 7nme (jyroudly) 
away, — let 'em try it that way, and they'll find 'em at 
rather a heavy premium : eh, Mary? 

Mrs. W. {snips off end of ribbon^ and throics down 
ivork). Yes, brother, we were fortunate in getting the 
house. And, Robert, you don't know it, but it was 
very quick work getting the children fitted out as you 
wished ; but I hope j^ou will find them to your liking. 

]Mr. C. I trust so — I trust so. But, Mary my 
dear, {pompously) the nephews and nieces of Robert 
Chester ought to have every thing that is needful in 
the way of dress. {Rings for servant; comes over to 
his sister* s side.) And to think, Mary (pulls out his 
handkerchief)^ that my own sister should have been 
poor and homeless with all her little ones, and I — I — 
(blabbers) I rolling up a great bank account — boo-hoo 
— all for myself — for one cosseted, crusty, snarly, 
withered-up old bach. It's shocking, it is really, you 
know. But I'll be a good father to your children, 
Mary. Really, I will, Mary. I — (Knocks and maid 
enters. Wipes eyes hastily^ straightens ^ip majestically., 
and goes toicard tJie maid.) Harriet, you understand 
the children are to be here at seven. And mind you, 
(getting excited) seven doesn't mean quarter of seven 
nor quarter past seven — but just seven precisely and 
exactly. (Exit maid.) 

Mrs. W. Robert, if you wish to be a good father 
to the children — 

Mr. C. I know. I know. I go off like a fire- 
cracker. But (proudly) I shall stop it, — I shall stop 
it for the childi-en's sake. ( Very pompously.) If I'm 



26 A bachelor's CHRISTMAS. 

to govern this house and these children, of course I 
must govern myself. That's it — that's it; and I 
shall do it, too. {Knock, cmd re-enters maid.) 

Maid. If you please, sir, is baby to be brought in 
with the other children ? 

Mr. C. {in a fury). Is baby to be brought in with 
the other children ! And what would you do with 
baby, pray, if he isn't brought in with the other chil- 
dren ? Tell me that, if you please. Would you throw 
him out of the window ? Would you — 

Mrs. W. {placing her hand on his arm). Robert 
dear — 

Mr. C. Yes, Mary my dear, there I go again. {To 
maid, vei-y politely.) Harriet, my love, you may bring 
baby in with the other children, certainly. And, my 
love, {very mysteriously) keep them in the nursery till 
seven, then bring them here. Prompt at seven, you 
understand, my love. {Exit maid, eying Mr. Ches- 
ter quizzically.) There, sister Mary, that's a good 
beginning, you'll own. You mustn't despair of me. 
You see, my heart is so bursting full of Christmas 
peace and love and good-will, that it — why, you know 
what I mean — it will break out in spite of me. 

Daisy {behind scenes). I won't stay in that old 
room. I'm going in that pretty room with mamma. 

Rex {same). No, you mustn't. Our new papa 
said we mustn't. 

Mrs. W. Robert dear, I think I'll go myself, and 
look after the children till seven o'clock. Harriet 
will never be able to control them. {Exit.) 

Mr. C. (rubbing his hands in delight). Our new 



A bachelor's CHRISTMAS. 27 

papa ! Now, really, that means me, you know. It 
does, really. Of course Harriet will not be able to 
control those children. They are bright children, those 
children of mine are. Nobody will be able to control 
them, — nobody except myself {with great importance)^ 
and I shall rule them solely by love ; solely by love, 
that's it. Ha, ha, ha ! Won't the fellows at the club 
die with envy when they see me at the head of this 
house and all these children ? Oh, but it will be sport 
to see them ! it will now, really. But {looking at his 
watch) they will be here in a few minutes. This 
won't do. I must get to work {picks up a Santa 
Claus costume lying on sofa). I made a monkey of 
myself once to be Santa Claus, but that was when I 
was young. Bah ! After all, I'm not so old now; no 
indeed, I'm a young man j^t. How does this thing go 
anyhow, I wonder? {Dresses as he talks.) Now, that 
is a gay ticket. I wonder if the little rabbits will know 
me. I rather guess ! You can't blind those young- 
sters very easily ! {Puts on wig.) They ivill be 'cute 
if they know me now. ( Turns round and round before 
the glass, and admires himself delightedly.) Ha! 
Won't their eyes shine, though ! {Puts a big bag over 
his back, and hangs a pair of skates, a trumpet, a tin 
horse, two dolls, and other toys over him.) There ! 
I'm a festive-looking Santa Claus, at all events. 
{Voices outside, "Here, wait for me, Rexie ! ") Here 
they come, bless 'em ! {Enter Daisy.) 

Daisy {peeps in, coming far enough to be well seen. 
At sight of Santa Claus, holds up both hands in amaze- 
ment, and exclaims) . Oh, my ! Oh ! {Pushes off the 



28 A BACHELOE's CHRISTMAS. 

stage screaming very loudly.^ Harry, Harry! Rex! 
All of you ! Come quick ! It's Santa Claus ! Really 
aud truly Santa Claus, right here in our parlor ! Where 
did he go ? {Enter the children. They look all about 
expectantly.) 

Harry. Nonsense, Daisy, you little goosie ! you're 
fooling us. 

Rex. Pooh! Santa Claus never comes right out 
like that. 

Daisy. But I saw him ! I saw him alive ! Right 
here ! With my two eyes ! {Dancing around^ and 
hunting for Santa.) 

Dot. Course she did ! Daisy wouldn't tell a lie. 
I'U find him. 

All the Children {spying him). Oh, there he is! 
Oh, my ! It is Santa Claus, as true as you live ! 
{Clap their hands^ and dance up and doivn during these 
exclamations.) 

Santa {coming out and frisking around). Well, 
little folks, a merry Christmas to you all ! 

All. Merry Christmas ! Merry Christmas ! How 
did you get here? Oh, but isn't he jolly ! {They clap 
hands and dance around.) 

Daisy {going up to him). Are you the truly, truly 
Santa Claus? Honest? 

Harry. Of course he is. 

Rex. You can see that with one eye. 

All. Oh, my ! Isn't it fine ! {Clap hands, and 
dance around Santa.) 

Harry. See those skates ! Oh my eyes ! 

Rex. My buttons ! and that drum ! (Daisy and 



A bachelor's CHRISTMAS. 29 

Dotty ivhisper together, and point to the dolls. Enter 
ma^nma loith youngest child, if very small, in arms.) 

Children. O mamma! It's really and truly 
Santa Claus ! (Santa, who all this tirae has been 
frisking around, and shaking the presents teasingly at 
the children, begins to take them off. He holds up the 
skates.) 

Santa. Now, here's a fine pair of skates ! They 
are just the thmg for — for — let me see — for the 
baby. 

Children. The baby! (They laugh.) No, no- 
no mcZeecZ/ They'll just fit Harry. {In the scramble 
for the skates, Daisy or Dotty, if big enough, gets the 
skates, gives them to Harry, giving him at the same 
time a hug around the neck.) 

Santa. And these dolls ! {Eocks them, to and fro, 
singing "By-low-baby.") I do believe Rex here has 
his eye on these dolls ! {Laughter again.) 

Children (boisterously) . You funny, naughty Santa ! 
Rex. a boy have dolls ! 

Harry. You must give Daisy and Dotty the dolls. 
Dotty. Of course. (Santa gives dolls to the little 
girls.) 

Santa. And here's just the prettiest drum I could 
find in my toy-shop. Daisy and Dotty will want that too, 
I suppose. (Children, laughiyig boisterously, scramble 
for the drum, and hang it over Rex's neck. They pull 
the toys from Santa, he pretending to defend himself. 
One or two toys like a jumpiyig-jack, a ball, and perhaps 
a few handfuls of candy, Santa tosses slyly to the chil- 
dren in the audience. The children on the stage get 



30 A bachelor's cheistmas. 

among the toys some bonbons; each snaps one, ayid 
puts one of the paper caps on. Rex laughingly puts 
one on baby, and Daisy on her mother. Daisy then 
steps off, and exclaims with a wag of her head.) 
There ! 

Santa. There, children ! Now, hasn't old Santa 
treated you handsomely ? {He holds up his finger for 
them to keep quiet, and pulls from his p)ocl:et a gold 
ivatch and chain. Goes to mamma, and fastens the 
chain around her neck very proudly and affectionately.) 
And see what we have for dear, dear mamma ! 

Children. Oh! (Admiringly.) Oh! You dear, 
dear old Santa Glaus ! Oh, you jolly old darling ! 
. Santa {takes baby in arms). And now, my dear, 
dear little folks, what is the very best of all the Christ- 
mas presents Santa Claus has brought you ? 

Children. Our new papa ! Our beautiful, splendid 
new papa ! 

Santa. And the very, very best Christmas gift he 
has brought to your new papa is a big, precious family 
to love and to care for. And so {coming forward in 
centre) God bless us all, and give us every year — 

Mrs. W. a merry Christmas and a bright New 
Year. 

Rex. And send us Santa loaded down with toys. 

Harry. And fill our hearts with merry Christmas 
joys. 

Daisy. And we will help to make the Christmas 
merry — 

Dotty. By being kind and loving, very, very, very. 
{Music strikes up. Santa puts baby on the floor in 



A bachelor's CHRISTMAS. 31 

front at one of the sides, takes Mrs. Wilton as part- 
ner; the children pair^ Rex with Daisy and Harry 
with Dotty, and. dajice around the stage,) 
(Curtain,) 

iq"oTE. — After the curtain, Santa may go down into 
the audience, and distribute boxes of candy or bonbons to the 
children. It would be a good way, to have Santa Clans, 
when he is distributing the presents to the children in the 
play, toss to some gentleman in the audience boxes of candy 
or bonbons. They may be kept until now, and he can now 
distribute them. Santa may stay around in his costume 
as entertainer-in-general as long as is desirable. 



tou will find the Piece you are looking tor among 60 of tlie Choicest 
Selections in the 



u 



Reading Club and Handy Speaker, 



Edited by George M. Baker. 
PHce, cloth, 50 cents; paper, 15 cents. 

CONTENTS. 



P'ra Giacomo . . • -r^; 
Bob Cratcbit's Christmas-Dinner 
The First Snow-Fall . 
rbe Countess and the Serf . . 
Aurelia's Unfortunate Young Man 

Losses 

Mad Luce . \ \ ' 
The Solemn Book-Agent • 
What the Old Man saia _ . 
Bone and Shicw and Bram . 
Pat and the Oysters 
Twilight ... 

The Singer •„•_.• 
Speech of the Hon Perve^^o 

the Acquisition of iJui^a 
Bunker Hill . . • ■ 
Two Births . . • • 
The Old Fogy Man 
Auction Mad . . • • 
The Wedding Fee 



;r-bodr 



B^hv 



X lie »» <^v»vi»..^ 

Schneider's Tomatoes . 
The Wolves . • • • 
The Ballad of the Oystermai' 
The Deck-Hand and the Mul'^ 

A Lay of Real Life 

Riding Down . 

The Minute-men of 7o 

Uncle Reuben's Baptism • - 

How Persimmons took Cab oh der 

The Evils of Ignorance . • 

Scenes from the School of Reform 

Ambition . • • • 

The Victories of Peace 

For Love • • . • . * 

The Flower-Mission, junior 

The Sons of New England . 

The Jonesville Singin' Quire 

The Last Tilt 

The Burial of the Dane . • 
Aupeal in Behalf of American Liberty 
The Church of the Best Licks . • ^ ^ 
The Roman Soldier. Destruction 

culaneum 
Temperance . • -^ " , ' 
Roast Pig. A Bit of Lamb . 
Sirailia Siraihbus ._ 
Two Loves and a Life . . 
The Recantation of Galileo . 
Mosqiiiloes • • ' ™, 
Ibe Law of Kindness; or, The 

man's Railway Signal . 
Ode . , . . • 
|£r. Stiver's Horse 



Robert Buchanan. 
Dickens. 

James Russell Lowell, 
J. Sheridan Knowles. 
3rark Twain. 
Francis Browne. 
All the Year Round. 
Detroit Free Press. 
Alice Robhinx- 
John Boyle O'Reilly. 

Spanish Gypsy. 
Alice Williams. 



George IT. Calvert. 
Charles J, Sprague. 



Her- 



Old 



R 31. Streeter. 
Charles F. Adams. 
J. T. Trorcbridge. 
Oliver Wendell Holmek 

Tom Hood. 

Nora Perry. ^ , 
George William CurtU 
Vick^^burg Herald. 
St. Nicholas. 
Horace Jfann. 
Thomas Morton, 
ffniry Clay. 
Charles Sumner. 

Earl Marble. 

If on. George B. Loring. 

My Opmions and Betsey 3«Q&m 

Ilepri- .^. Hirst. 

IlenT-y Howard BrownelL 

Story^ 

Fdwaf-l Sggleston. 

1 Atherstone. 

Wendell FHi'ipa. 
Charles Lan^b. 

', William Su"^.-r. 
, Francis E. .tale^gh. 
. K.K. 



Wo- j Elihu Burritt. 



George Sennott. 

The Danbweu J^evah Kd 



If you are looking for Something New, you will find it amon§ 
50 of the Choicest Selections in the 



M 



Reading Club and Handy Speaker 



Edited by George M. BaKEB. 
Price, cloth, SO cents; paper, IS cents. 

CONTENTS. 



The Tramp « • • 

Joan of Arc . . . 

Pecoration ... 

Minot's Ledge . 

Scene from " The Hunchback 

Widder Green's Last Words 

I'he Cane-Bottomed Chair 

The House-Top Saint . 

Tom ..... 

The Song of the Dying . 

My Neighbo»:'e Baby 

" The I'aper Don't Say " 

The Post-Boy . 

What is a Minority? . 

Robert of Lincoln , • 

Duddy Worthless , 

Zenobia'3 Defence . . 

William Tell . 

Mary Maloney's Philosophy 

Custer's Last Charge 

Mother's Fool . 

The Little Black Eyed Rebel 

" The Palace o' the King " 

Grandfather 

*• Business " in Mississippi 

The Indian's Claim . 

The Battle-Flag of Sigurd 

The Way Astors are Made 

Mr. Watkins celebrates . 

The Palmetto and the Pine 

Pip's Fight 

Cuddle Doon . . 

The Hot Roasted Chestnut 

St. John the Aged . 

TheBellof Atri 

Ml . O'Hoolahan's Mistake 

The Little Hero 

The Village Sewing-Society 

He Givetli' His Belovf d Sleep 

The Dignity of Labor 

A Little Shoe . 

« The Penny Ye Meant to Gi' 

&. Question 

The Cobbler's Secret , 

The Lost Cats . . , 

The Pride of Battery B . 

Leodle Yaweob Strauss , 

Two Portraits . 

Elder Sniflies' Courtship 

Goin' Somewliere 



<Sold by all booksellers and neicsfleal 



George 3f. Baker, 

DeQuincey. 

T. W. Iligginson. 

Fitzjames O'Brien, 

Sheridan Knowlea. 

Thackeray. 

3Irs. J. D. Chaplin. 

Constance Fenimore TTooisMI 



Mrs. G. J. Despard, 

J. B. Gough. 

Bryant. 

Lizzie W. Champney, 

William Ware. 

Philadelphia Bulletin, 
Frederick Whittaker, 

Will Carleton. 
William Mitchell. 
Theodore Parker. 
Chronicle, Augusta, Go* 

Everett. 

J. M. Bailey. 

Detroit Press. 

Mrs. Virginia L. Frencht 

Dickens. 

Alexander Anderaotu 

J. Ed. Milliken. 



receipt oj price 



Longfellow, 



Rev. JU'eivman BaU, 
H.H. 



F. IT. Gassaway. 
Charles F. Adams, 



M. Quad, 
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Always Get the Best. 50 of the Choicest selections in the 

Eeading Club and Handy SpeaJ^er. 

Edited by George M. Bak^r. 

Price, cloth, 60 cetits; paper, 15 cents. 

CONTENTS. 

The Red Jacket George M. Baker. 

Old Age 

Mahmoud Leigh Hunt. 

The Closet Scene from *' Hamlet" 
How he saved St. Michael's . 

Samson 

The Story of the Bad Little Boy who 

didn't come to Grief. 
Mr. Caudle and his Second Wife . 

Tauler 

The Doorstep 

Old Farmer Gray gets photographed 
Mr. O'Gallagber's Three Koads to 

Learning .... 
The Jester'8 Sermon . 
•' The Boofer Latly " 
Defiance of Harold the Dauntless 
Battle Hymn .... 
The Story of the Faithful Soul 
•' Curfew must not ring To-Xight 
The Showman's Courtship 
How Terry saved his Bacon . 
The Senator's Pledge . . 
Overthrow of Belshazzar . 
The Hour of Prayer 
The Squire's Story . . . 
The Happiest Couple , . 

Godiva 

Farmer Bent's Sheep-Washing 

The Deutsch Maud MuUer . 

Charles Sumner . , 

The Bricklayers 

A Stranger in the Pew . . 

The Mistletoe-Bough 

The Puzzled Census-Taker . 

Th? Voices at the Throne . 

Hans Breitmann's Party . . 

Kob Roy MacGregor . 

Der Drummer .... 

The Yankee and the Dutchman's Dog 

Popping the Question 

The Bumpkin's Courtship . 

The Happy Life 

At the Soldiers' Graves . , 

Nobody there .... 

The Factory-Girl's Diary 

In tlie Tunnel .... 

"Jones" 

The Whistler .... 
"Good and Better" 
Jakie on Watermelon Pickle 
The Old Melliodist's Testimony 

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Aldi7ie. 



Mark Twain. 

Douglas Jerrold^a Fireside Saints^ 

Whittier. 
E. C. Stedman. 
John II. Yates. 
Capt. MaiTyut. 

Walter Thornbxiry. 

Dickens's " Mutual Friend.* 

Scott. 

Kurner. 

Adelaide Procter. 

Rosa Ilartwick Thorpt. 

Arternus Ward. 

Charles Sumner, 
Parry CoriiwalU 
3Irs. Ilcmuns, 
John Phmnix. 
Sheridan. 
Tennyson. 

Carl Pretzel. 
Carl Schurz. 
G. H. Barnes. 
Harper's Mag. 
Bayley. 
J. G. Saxe. 
I. Westwood. 
Charles G. LelandU 
Walter Scott. 
Charles F. Adams. 



Sir TTenry TFo«««, 
Pohert Colly er. 
Anonymous. 
Morton. 




wni find one of your Favorites among 90 of tlie Chetc»» 
Selections in the 



Reading Olub and Handy SpeakM 



Edited by George M. Baker. 
Price, cloth, 60 cents; paper, 15 cent9. 
CONTENTS. 



ITie Rescue 

The IMokvvickians on Ice . 

A Picture 

Tobe's Monuiuent 

The Two Anchors . 

The Old Ways and the New 

By the Alma River . 

Trial Scene from '• Merchant of Venice*' 

The Sisters . . - , 

Barm- Yard Song 

The Fortune-Huntet 

Curing a Cold ... 

In the Bottom Drawer 

Two Irish Idyla . . • 

Over the Iliver , . , . 

The Modest Cousin . . • . 

Biddy'ij Troubles 

The Man with a Cold in his Head 

Harry and I , . . . 

The Shadow on the Wall 

The Little Pui^zler ■ 

A. Traveller's Evening Song . 

Calling a Boy in the Morning . 

Cooking and Courting 

A Tragical Tale of the Tropics 

The Paddock Eirns , 

The Bobolink .... 

Toothache .... 

The Opening of the Piano 

Press On .... 

The Beauty of Youth 

^ueen Mab .... 

L Militia General 

iddress of Spottycur, 

Our Visitor, and what he came for 

•What's tlie Matter with that Note?' 

Workers and Thinkers . 

fhe Last Ride . 

tJaby Atlas 

Possession 

jThere is no Death 

The Learned Negro . 

S^earer, my God, to Thee 

\ Short Sermon 

Join' Home To-day . 

rhe Broken Pitcher . 

k Baby's Soliloquy . 

fhe Double Sacrifice 

Junday Morning 

The Quaker Meeting 



Jo/tn Brownjohn. 

Dickens. 

Mrs. II. A. Binghcti^ 

Elizabeth Kilhanu 

R. II. Stoddard. 

John II. Yates. 

jViss din loch. 

Shakspeare. 

John G. WhittUr, 

John G. Saxe. 
Mark Twain. 

Alfred Perceval Grcgp» 

Priest. 

/Sheridan Kfiowles. 



Sarah M.B. PiatL 
Mrs. Hemans. 

Tom to Ned, 

B. E. Woolf 
Aldine. 

Atlantic Monthljf, 
Park Benjamin 
Theodore Par'ksr, 
Borneo and Juliet. 
Thomas Ccrwm, 



Our Fat Conti'ibvUm^ 

Riiskin. 

^ora Per^ 

Owen MeredHh. 

Sir E. Bulv.cr I.ytton. 

Co n grega Hon a U ■'it. 

Sarah F. Adams. 

Not by a Hard- Shell Ba 

W. M. Cavleton. 

Anonymrus 

A.'tf ur William Austin 
Gcorg'. J Baker, jun. 
Sami^fl ^over. 



I by aU booksellers an'i newsdealers, or sent by m< it on receipt o>, 

lAE & SHEPARD, Pubiijhe.s, Boston 



¥•• will riitd nothing bu« ram Q*mt in th« ^ C>«>«« t«l*«tiM« l« «!• 

Reading-Club and 3andy Speaker. 



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Edited by Gkorgk M. Baker. 
Price, cloth, 50 ctnts •• paper, IS cents. 

CONTENTS. 



K Royal Princegg . Christina O, Ros$4iH. 

A Reminiscence H. B. Hooker, D.h 

The Lest Hymn Marianne Farmns^^'^ 

The Fool's Prayer Atlantic. 

The Deid Student Wili Carleton, 

Greatest Walk on Becord 

Drawing Water 

This Side and That George MacdomO^ 

Civil War Anonymous. 

A Modem Sermon ...«.••• 

That Calf . . . . , Phoebe Gary. 

The New Dixie O. L. C. 

The National Game 

Unf ]e Melliok Dineg with hig Magter . . . J, Jt. Eggletton. 

M^d's Misery 

San Benito Helen M. Oilberi 

How Randa went over the River . . . . C. C. Cojin. 

The Ladies Mark Twain. 

Two Fishers Harper's Wrektu. 

Left Alone at Eighty 

" Dashing Rod," Trooper S. Conant Fosiar, 

Orient Yourself . Horace Mann. 

Rhymes at Random 

The Carpenter's Wooinsf, and the Seqael . . Tawc<^ Strauss, 

A Humorous Dare-Devfl Bulwer. 

Hohenlinden Campbell. 

St. Leon's Toast 

The Patriot Spy F. M. Finch. 

How Neighbor Wilkins got Religion . . . James Berry Bensti 

Jim Wolfe and the Cat* Mark Tioain. 

Pledge to the Dead William Winter, , 

A London Bee Story Quiz. 

A College Widow Acta Columbiana. 

" He Giveth His Beloved Sleep " . , . .J. C. HnntingtoH. 

Hannibal at the Altar Elijah Kellogg. 

Creeds of the Bells J.W.Bungay. 

The Pomo logical Society 

Ave Maria Comhill Magcunme 

The Singer's Almg 

Family Portraits School for ScandeU, 

The Irish Boy and the Priegt 

The Retort 

A Free Seat 

Paddle Your Own Canoe 

All 's Well that Ends Well 

Jimmv Butler and the Owl Ammvmous. 

A Mo^ie^n Heroine ....... KUzabeth Cm»*«f» 

DowT Hill with the Brakes Off Q, H Jessop. 

On the Chaimel Boat O. L. C. 

The Pin 

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LEE * SHEPARD, Publishers, Boston. 



You will find both Wit and Sentiment in the 50 Choice Selections in the 

Reading-Club and Handy Speaker. 

Edited by George M. Baker. 
Price, cloth, 50 cents ; paper, 15 cents. 

CONTENTS. 



Nt. 



Vir: 



Strone: 



Tennyson. 
Bulicer. 
Afichnel Lynch. 
Francis S. Osgood. 
Lucy Wade Herrick. 
H.H. 



The Defence of Lucknow . 
Paul Clifford's Defence . . 
The Outlaw's Yarn . 
Labor is Worship • • , • . 
The Legend of the White Hand 
Two Dreams . . . • 
People will Laugh . 
" Christianos ad Leones ! " . 
Ballad of the Bell-Tower . 
A Sermon for the Sisters 
Mrs Brown at the Play 
Dutcii Security .... 
From One Stand-point . 
The Captive .... 
The Peril of the iiines . 
Aunt Phillis's Guest 
Annie's Ticket . . . • 
Along the Line .... 
The Divorce Feast . 
The Indian Warrior's Defence 
The Farmer and ttie Barrister 
Yankee Courtship . 
London Zoological Gardens 
Apples — A Comedy 

Old Grimes 

Daisy's Faith .... 
Father William .... 
Parody on " Father William " 
The Grave of the Greyhound 
A New Version of tlie Parable of the 
Song of the Mystic . 
The Fast Mad . . 
De 'Sperience ob de Reb'rend Quacko 
The Patter of tiie Shingle 
The Girl of the Crisis . 
The Rich Man and the Poor Mao 
A Colored Debating Society 
Shiftless Neighbor Ball 
Lauty Leary 

The Baron's Last Banquet 
The Last of the Sarpints 
The Dilemma . . 
A Brick .... 
An Evangel » 
A Thirsty Boy . 
Masked Batteries 
The Stcry of the Tiles 
The City Man and Setting Hen 
Miss Edith's Modest Request 
The Man with a Bear 
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Francis A. Dnrirage. 
Margaret J. Preston, 
Irvin Jizissell. 
Arthur Sketchley. 

M. P. Bvtfs. 
Henry Hdllips, Jr. 

Win. C. Gannett. 

Iricin Russell. 



Horace Smith. 



BlacJctoood's Magazine. 

A. G. Green. 

Joanna H. Matheics. 

It. Sotithey. 

Adventures in Wonderland 

Spencer. 

Father Ryan. 
John H. Yates. 



Walter Smith. 
Khemnitzer. 

Mrs. Annie Preston. 
Samuel Loiter. 
A. G. Green. 



O. W. Holmes. 



Burlington Hatvkeye, 
"■ Vanity Verses.'' 
Golden Age. 

Bret Harte. 




The Freshest, Brightest, and Best, are the 50 Choicest 
Selections in the 

Reading Club and Handy Speaker 

Edited by George M. Baker 
Price, cloth, SO cents; papr,, 15 cents. 

CONTENTS. 



The Ballad of Ronald Clare . 

The Scotchman at the Play . 

The Dead Dull 

A Chari^e with Prince Rupert 

An Irish Wake 

The Honest Deacon 

Tact and 'i'alent 

The Two G lasses . 

Whistling in Heaven 

Koble Revensie 

Dot Baby off Mine. (By permission) 

The Amateur Spelling-Match 

Why Biddy and Pat got Married 

Art-Matters in Indiana , 

Miss Edith helps Things along 

The Flood and the Ark . 

Not Dead, but Risen 

Ballad of a Baker . 

Five 

Uncle Remus' Revival Hymji 
A Mysterious Disappearance 
An Indignation-Meeting. 
Something Spilt 
From tlie Sublime to the Ridicul 

" 'tis but a Sti-'p " 
Scene from " The Marble Heart" 
The Seven Ages 

A Watch that " wanted cleaning, 
(By permission) 

Tired Mothers ...» 

Good-by 

*« One of the Boys " 

The Bridge .... 

A Rhine Legend . . . 

The Little Shoes did it . 

Burdock's Goat 

Faithful Little Peter 

Blue and Gray 

Mollie, or Sadie? . • • 

Butterwick's Weakness . 

Between the Lines . 

Somebody's Mother . . 

The Ballad of Constance 

Failed 

The Canteen .... 

A Blessing on the Dance 
\n Exciting Contest 

The Last Redoubt . 

*' If We Knew "... 

Bcene from " London Assurance 

"The Kaiser's Feast . 

Sideways . . • > • 



Thomea S. Collier. 
'* J/aii-sie Wimc/t." 
3far(/aret Vandegrift* 
T. W. Higginsoiu 



London Atlas, 

Harper's Magazine, 

Charles Follen Aiams, 
Earl Marble. 
R. II. Stoddard. 

Bret Harte. 



Charles Dicken. ,^1meici ^pen 



Charles Selby. 
Shakspeare. 

J. T. Fields. 



Frank Foxcroft. 

E. W. Longjellon, 
Curtis Guild. 



William Winter. 

C. G. Halpine (MiUf CBtUiu 
Irwin Russell. 

Alfred Austin. 

BeucicauU. 



!lo.6 



The Best Yet. 50 Rare Selections. 

Eeading Club and Handy Speaker. 

Edited by George M. Baker. 
Pi'ice, cloth., 60 cents ; paper, 16 cents. 

CONTENTS. 

Count Eberhard's Last Foray Thos. S. Collier. 

Tammy's Prize 

Deaf and Dumb Anna F. Burnham. 

The Changed Cross 

Virginius to the Roman Army Elijah Kellogg. 

The Fountain of Youth Ilezekiah Butterworth. 

They Met 

Clerical Wit 

Greeley's Ride Mark Twain. 

Der Shoemaker's Poy 

The Sergeant of the Fiftieth 

The Fan Drill Spectator. 

Warning to Woman 

The Cavalry Charge F. A. Ihirivage. 

Widow Stebbins on Homceopathy Charles F. Adams. 

The Fight at Lookout li. L. Can/, Jun. 

The Well-Digger John G. Saxe. 

Behind Time f Freeman Hunt. 

A Miracle Charles H. Webber* 

Weaving the Web 

The Great Future . George F. Hoar. 

A Christmas Carol 

"Them Yankee Blankits" Samuel W. Small. 

Jim Lane's Last Message Sherman D. liichardsoik 

One Touch of Nature 

A Disturbance in Church 3fax Adeler. 

The Palmer's Vision J. G. Holland. 

A " Sweeter Revenge" 

The Farmer's Story David Hill. 

Faddy O'Rafther . . . . „ Samuel Lover. 

The Fireman's Prayer Russell //. Comoell. 

Down with the Heathen Chinee! U^ew- York Sun. 

John Chinaman's Protest M. F. D. 

The Sweet Singer of Michigan 

Ten Years After Kate Putnam Osgood, 

Putty and Varnish Josh Billings. 

Nationality Rufus Choate. 

Tacking Ship off Shore Walter Mitchel. 

Immortality Phillips Brooks. 

Mr. Coville" Proves Mathematics J. 31. Bailey. 

Blind Ned Irwin Russell. 

The Benediction Franqois Coppee. 

" Conquered at Last" 3Iaria L. Eve. 

The Ship-Boy's Letter 

An Irish Love-Letter George 31. Baker, 

Reserved Power 

Talk about Shooting 

The King's Kiss li'ora Perry. 

Joe's Bespeak 

A Disturbed Parent 

Sold by all booksellers and newsdealers, and sent by mail, postpaid, vn 
receipt of price. 

LEE & SHEPARD^ Publishers. Bostoru 



Acknowledged fhe Best. 50 of the Choicest Selections in the 



Reading-Club and Handy Speaker. 

Edited by George M. Baker. 
Pr^e, cloth, 50 cents ; paper, 15 cents. 

CONTENTS. 




The Spinnmsf-whcel . 

The Hero- Woman . 

The Son<; of the North 

No Color Line in Heaven 

Ginj»-erbread 

A Night Watch . . 

The Loves of Lucinda 

The Widow of Nain . 

The Tomato . 

Lookout Mountain, 1803— Beutelsbach 

The Little Girl's Song 

" Papa says so, too " 

The Poetry of Iron . 

Hannah .... 

An Old Man's Dreams 

Don Squixet's Ghost 

The Kiiii?'s Hell . . 

The Tramp of Shiloh 

Johnny on Snakes . 

Antony to Cleopatra 

Cleopatra Dying 

Cheek .... 

The Right must Win 

Make the Best of Every 

The Datrger Scene from " The Wife 

The Calif . . 

The Man wich didn't driu 

Mice at Play 

Jan Steener's Ride . 

Setting a H en 

The Marked Grave . 

A Very Naughty Little Girl's Views of 

The Dandy Fifth 

The Holly" Branch 

Antoinette . 

Claribel's Prayer 

The Marriage" of Santa Claus 

A Similar Case . 

Selling the Farm 

"He and She" . 

The Legend of the Organ-builder 

The One-Legged Goose 

The Owl Critic . 

Time .... 

The Sleep . . . 

She would be a Mason 

The Legend of Saint Barbara 

Reviving de Sinners . 

Awfully Lovely Philosophy 

Life in De ith 



k Wotter 



B. F. Taylor. 
George Ltppard. 
Lizzie Doten. 

San Francisco Argonattt. 

Mark Melville. 
N. P. Willis. 
Charles F. Adams. 
Geo. L. Catlin. 
Sydney Dobell. 
Jennie T. Hazen Lewis, 
Burlington Hawkeye, 

Eliza M. Sherman. 
Harry Bolingbroke. 
Eben E Hexford. 
Joaquin Miller. 

Gen. Wm. H Lytle. 
Thorn. S. Collier. 
Phillips Thompson. 
Frederic William Faber^ 

J. Sheridan Knowles, 
Ida T. Thurston. 

Neil Forrest. 
John W. Chadivick, 

Lillie E. Barr. 

Frank H. Gassaway. 
" lirnmnie.^'' 
Francis A. Dnrivage. 
Lynde Palmer. 



Beth Day. 
Edwin Arnold. 
Jidia C. R. Dorr. 

James T. Fields. 

Eohertson. 

Mrs. E. B. Broioning, 
James C. Laughton. 
Mary A. P. Stansbury. 



B. P. Shillaber. 
and sent by mail, post-paid^ on 



Life 



Sold by all booksellers and newsdealers 

receipt of jtrice. 

LEE & SHEPARD, Publishers^ Boston. 



Acknowledged the Best. 50 of the Choicest Selections in the 



Fid 



Reading-Club and Handy Speaker* 

Edited by George M. Baker. 
Price, cloth, 50 cents ; paper, 15 ^ents, 

CONTENTS. 



The Story of a Stowaway 
A Purpose . . • • • 
Building and Being . * • 
The Round of Life . . 
The Clown's Baby . . 
Our Baby . . . . • 
Sooner or Later . . . • 
Autumn Thoughts . 
The Cruise of the Monitor . 
No Yearning for the B.3autifal 
Ravenswood's Oath . . . 
The Widow to her Son . 
The Banker and the Cobbler . 
Rather Embarrassing 
Saving Mother .... 
The Sharpshooter's Miss . . 
Brudder Johnson on 'Lectilcity 
Utiion of Blue and Gray . 
The Jackdaw of Rheims . 
BeathoftlieOid Wife . . 
Squire Houston's Marriage Ceremony 
The Baffled Book Agent . . 
Scene from Mary Stuart . 
A Christmas Elegy ... 
Conversion of Colonel Quagg . 
The Confession .... 
A Court Lady .... 
Tickled all Oafer .... 

A Penitent 

Nebiichadnezzab ... 
Death of Steerforth . . . 
The Serenade .... 
The " Ole Marster's" Christmas 
How the Colonel took it . 
Robert Eramett's Last Speech 
The Parting Lovers . 
This Means You, Girls . 

Ramon 

Tlie Vay Rube Hoffenstein Sells 
Wild Weather Outside . . 
Young Grimes .... 
Autumn Leaves. A Comedietta 

Hark! 

Intensely Utter .... 
Charge of the Heavy Brigade 
The Chain of Gold . . . 

Garheld 

No Time like the Old Time . 

Caxcassonne 

The Mate of the Betsey Jane 



Punch. 

From " Geraldine/* 
Chambers^ Journal. 
Margaret Vandegrijt. 

Harriet Prescott Spoffortti 

Bill Nye. 

George M. Baker, 

Max Adeler. 

A. Wallace Thaxter. 

The Dnhlin Freeman, 

Lafontoine. 



Frank H. Gassaway, 

Paul H. Hayne, 
Barham, 



Schiller. 

George Augustus SdUu 

Lover. 

E. Barrett Browning, 



Margaret Eytinge, 
Erwin Russel, 
Dickens. 



Atlanta Constitution, 
Walter Thornbury, 

Mary E. Day, 
Peck^s Sun. 
Bret Harte. 

Margaret E. SangstOtu 
B. P. Shillaber. 



Rose Terry Cooke. 
Albany Chronicle, 
Tennyson. 

J. G. Blaine. 
Anonymous. 
Gustave Nadaud. 
Anonymous. 



Sold by all booksellers and newsdealers, and sent by mail, post-paid^ 
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LEE & SHEPARD, Publishers, Boston. 




Eiiii-CiiJHaiF Spate 

Edited by George M. Baker. 
Price, cloth, 50 cents ; paper, 15 cents, 

CONTEXTS. 

The Catatact of Lodore Robert Souther/. 

A Glimpse of Death From A Tight SqueezSo 

Reflections on the Needle Cor mac (fLeary, 

The Red O'Neil Thomas S. Collier. 

Vii-i:inny! S.N.Cook. 

Convent Rol)hin(i: Robert Bucharian. 

For Life and Death , . 

Mairnificent Poverty Victor TTufjo. 

O'thello Harper's M igazine. 

Washee, Washce Joaquin Miller. 

Last Upon the Roll Hugh M. McDermott, 

A Second Review of the Grand Army . Brk Harte. 

Going Towards Snndown Hattie E. Buell. 

** Treadwater Jim" ** Old Si," in JocksonviUe Timex 

Yawcoh Stranss C F. Adnms. 

Leedle Yawcob Strauss — What He Says Arthur Dakin. 

The Closing Scene T. Buchanan Read. 

Drifted Out to Sea Rose H'trtwick Thorpe, 

The GUI Man Goes to Town J. Q. Swinnerton. 

Suckers on d.e Corn 

The Crutch in the Corner . . . . , . John Mcintosh. 

The Bivouac of the Dead tr Hira. 

" Nearer Home'' . Phrehe Cary. 

The Snow Storm R. \V. Emerson. 

The Unforirotten Foe Epes Sargent. 

Tlic Charge at Valley Maloy .... 

The Countersign was " Mary " . . . . Margaret Ei/tinge. 

Pat's Bondsman Lilian A. Moulton. 

What Saved t'le Uniun Oen. Grant. 

Wreck of the White Ship • . . . , Charles Dickens. 

*' iSIeh!)e " Joe's True Feesh Story . . 

Jtiig iii^n Bolton Euqene J. Hall. 

The Child's Eveninsr Prayer Mary A. Denison. 

Abraham Lincoln and the Fooi' Woman 

"Picciohi" 

" Fall In" . Mfiry Clrmmer. 

Mysterious Kappings ^ , B P. Shillaber. 

Kelly's Feiry . . . c Benjamin F. Taylor, 

Paddy's Metamorphosis Moore. 

Mr Murphv Explains His Son's Conduct 

Variegated Dogs Peck's Sun. 

No Precedent 

The Wonderful Tar-Baby Story . . . Harris 

The Captain's Tale ...... ^ From A Summer in the Azores, 

Speculation . . o . 

A Clear Baruaic . . .... 

Garibaldi and His Corat^snions .... Thomas RusselL 

Pericles to the People Kellogg, 

Roland Gray 

The Silver Cup 



THE GLOBE DRAMA. 



Price, 25 Cents each. 



1. COUPON BONDS. A Drama in Four Acts. By J. 1. Tkowbridge. 

Dramatised from the story of that name. Seven male, three female 
,naractt'rs. Three scenes. Modern costumes. Easily produced. 

2. UNDE B A VEIL. A Comedietta in One Act. By Sir Randall Roberts, 

Bart. Two male, three female characters. Scene, interior. Double room. 
Time in representation, thirty minutes. 

3. CliASS DAY. A Farce in One Act. By Dr. Francis A. Harris. Four 

male, three female characters. Scene, interior. Played at Harvard wiib 
great success. 

4. BETTER THAN GOLD. A Drama in Four Acts. By George M. 

Baker. Five male, lour female characters. One interior; same for the 
four acts. 

6. MRS. WALTHROP'S BACHELORS. A Comedy in Three Acts. 
Translated and adapted from the German of Benedix. By George M. 
Baker and Willaku Small. (" Our Bachelors " and " Mrs. Walthrop's 
Boarders " were translated from the same.) 

6. OUR MUTUAL FRIEND. A Comedy in Four Acts. Dramatised from 

the novel by Charles Dickens. By Harriet K. Shattuck. Four male, 
three female characters. 

7. REBECCA'S TRIUMPH. A Drama in Three Acts. By George M. 

Baker. (For female characters only.) Sixteen characters. Scenes are : 
Act 1, kitchen. Act 2, woods. Act 3, parlor. Written at the request of 
the " D.O.C, Cooking Club," of Chicago, -who took "Among the Breakers " 
as a model. 

8. APPLES. Comedy in One Act from Blackwood's Magazine. One male, two 

female characters. 

9. BABIE. Comedy in Three Acts. Translated from the French of Emile de 

Najac and Alfred Hennquin, .y F. E. Chase. Six male, five female 
characters. 

10. A PERSONAL MATTER. Comedy in One Act. By F. E. Chase. Two 

male, and two female characters. 

11. COMRADES. A Drama in Three Acts. By George M. Baker. Four 

male, three female characters. Scene, interior. Costumes raodern. 
Always successful. 
13. SNOW-BOUND. A Musical and Dramatic Entertainment. Jly George M. 
Baker. For three male and one female characters; requires some scenery, 
hut can be easily produced. Introduces tongs, recitations, and an original 
Burlesque, "Alonzo the Brave and the Fair Imogene." Time, two hours. 

13. BON-BONS. A Musical and Dramatic Entertainment. By George M. 

Baker. For four performers: three male, one female. Requires little 
scenery; introduces songs, recitations, and an original Burlesque, "The 
Paint King." Time in representation, two hours. 

14. PAST REDEMPTION. A New Temperance Drama in Four Acts. By 

George M. Baker. Nine male, and four female characters, and super- 
numeraries. Scenery : three interiors, one exterior. 

15. NEVADA ; or, The Lost Mine. Drama, in Three Acts. By George M. 

Baker. Eight male, three female characters. Scenery, exterior and in- 
terior of a Miner's Cabin in Nevada. Time, about two hours. 

16. POISON. A Farce, as acted by the Hasty Pudding Club of Harvard College 

with great success. Four male, three female characters. Time, thirty 
minutes. 

17. THE COOL COLLEGIANS. Comedy in Two Acts, by Miles Medic; 

three male and four female characters. 

GEORGE M. BAKEB, 47 Franklin Street. 



BY GEORGE M. B 

Author of ** Amateur Dramas ;' " The Mimic Staged' " 

Room Stage" '' Handy Dramas" " The Exhibition L 

Titles in this Type are New P 

Titles in this Type are Tempe 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 




017 401 678 1 4 



DEAHAS. 



In Four Acts. 



Better Than Gold. 
char. 



7 male, 4 I'emale 



In Three Acts. 

Our Folks. 6 male, 5 female char. . . 
Tlie Flower of the Family. 5 

male, 3 female char 

Enlisted for the War. 7 male, 3 fe- 
male characters 

My Brother's Keeper. 5 male, 3 fe- 
male char 

The Little Brown Jug, 5 male, 3 
female char 



In Two Acts. 
Above the Clouds. 7 male, 3 female 

characters 

Oxkf> lluiidred Years Ago. 7 male, 

4 female char 

Among the Breakers. 6 male, 4 female 

char 

teSEAD ON THE Waters. 5 male, 3 female 

char. 

JDowN BY THK Sea. 6 male, 3 female 

char. 

Once on a Time. 4 male, 2 female char. 
The Last Loaf. 5 male, 3 female char. 

In One Act. 
Stand by the Flag. 5 male char. <. . 
The Tempter. 3 male, i female char. 

COMEDIES AND FAECES. 

A Mysterious I>isappearance. /, 

male, 3 female char 

Paddle Tour Ovrii Canoe. 7 male, 

3 female char * 

A Drop too Much. 4 male, 2 female 

characters 

A. Little More Cider. 5 male, 3 fe- 
male char 

A Thorn Among the Roses. 2 male, 6 
female char. 

Never Say Die. 3 male, 3 female char. 

Seeing the Elephant. 6 male, 3 female 
char 

The Boston Dip. 4 male, 3 f-^male char. 

The Duchess of Dublin. 6 male, 4 fe- 
male char 

Thirty Minutes for Refrkshhents. 

4 male, 3 female char 

We're all Teetotalers, 4 male, 2 fe- 
male char 

^ Male Characters Only, 

A Close Shave. 6 char 

A Public Benefactor. 6 char. .... 
A ^EA of Tk<(VBLes. 8 chair. ..... 



COMEDIES, &c., continued. 

Male Characters Only. 
A Tender Attachment. 7 char. . , , 

Coals of Fjrf.. 6 char, o 

Freedom of the Press. 8 char. . . . 
Shall Our Moth$;rs Vote ? u char. 
Gentlemen of the Jury, 12 char. »> . 
Humors of the Strike. 8 char. . . 
My Uncle the Captain. 6 char. . . 
New Brooms Sweep Clean. 6 char. . 

The Great Elixir. 9 char 

The Hypochondriac. 5 char. .... 
The Man zvith the Demijohn, 4 

char. . . 

The Runaways 4 char. . . , . . 
The Thief of Time. 6 char. . . . 
Wanted, a Male Cook. 4 char. « . ■, 



Female Characters Only. 

A Love of a Bonnet. 5 cha/. . 1$ 

A Precious 1'ickle. 6 char 15 

No Cure no Pay. 7 char. 15 

The Champion of Her Sex. 8 char. . 15 

The Greatest Plague in Life. 8 cha. 15 

The Grecian Bend. 7 char. .... 15 

The Red Chignon. 6 char. .... 15 

Using the Weed. 7 char. 15 

ALLEGOHIES. 

Ai-ranged for Music and Tableaux. 

Lightheakt's Pilgrimage. 8 female 
char 15 

The Revolt of the Bees. 9 female 
char 15 

The Sculptor's Triumph, i male, 4 fe- 
male char 15 

The Tournament of Idylcourt. 10 
female char 15 

Thf ■'Var of the Roses. 8 female char. 15 

MUSICAL AND DRAMATIC. 

An Original Idea, i male, 1 female 
char, XS 

Bonbons ; or, the Paint King. 6 male, 

I female char 25 

Capuletta ; or, Romeo and Juliet 

Restored. 3 male, 1 female char. . 15 

Santa Claus' Frolics if, 

Snow-bound : or, Alonzo the Brave 

AND THE Fair Imogene. 3 male, z 

female char . 25 

The Merry Christmas of the Old 

Woman who lived in a Shoe. . . 15 
The Pedler of Vbry Nice. 7 male 

char • • •. • ^S 

The Seven Ages, h Tableau Entertam- 

ment. Numerous iwale and female char. 15 
Too Late for the Train. 2 male char, x^ 
Thb Visions of Freedom. 11 female 

dtwjr, ... «S 



Geo. M. Baker & Co., 47 Franklin St., Boston. 



